Terms of Business

Terms of Business

1. Introduction: These Terms of Business set out the general terms applicable to the legal services provided by Legal Bridge. We reserve the right to amend these Terms of Business at any time for new matters. In the event of such amendments, we will notify you by the appropriate means. By continuing to provide instructions or requesting our services after new Terms of Business take effect, you shall be deemed to have accepted the revised terms.

If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms of Business, please notify us promptly after receipt, or at the latest, prior to the commencement of our services.

1. Fees: Unless otherwise agreed, we will charge you based on the hourly rates outlined below. Our fees are primarily determined by the total time spent on your matter, which includes all phone calls, messages, and any additional time dedicated to your case.
2. Standard rate: €150 per hour.
3. Review of paper documents: charged at a rate of ten minutes per page.
4. Review of email pages: charged at a rate of five minutes per page.

You agree to reimburse us for any expenses incurred on your behalf, including but not limited to travel, accommodation, court and bailiff fees, third-party payments, and fees for foreign correspondents.

All fees and expenses are exclusive of VAT, which will be applied where applicable. You agree to provide any documentation necessary to correctly determine the VAT status of our services, particularly for EU-based clients. You will fully indemnify us against any interest, penalties, or legal costs that may arise from incorrect VAT information provided by you.

• Payment Terms: We issue invoices on a monthly basis, detailing the services rendered. Invoices must be paid in accordance with the terms stated therein.

Should our fees and expenses be subject to any tax deductions or withholdings, we reserve the right to charge an additional amount to ensure we receive the full sum that would have been payable in the absence of such deductions.

In the event of late payment, we reserve the right to charge statutory interest on the outstanding amount. We may also require payments on account of likely future fees and disbursements. Any unused funds will be refunded to you.

• Conflict of Interest: Before accepting your instructions, we conduct a conflict of interest check. Should a conflict arise during our engagement, we will promptly notify you to discuss how to proceed.
• Identification: In accordance with the Dutch Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act (Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme), we are obliged to verify your identity and may be required to report certain unusual transactions to the relevant authorities. By instructing us, you confirm your awareness of this obligation and agree to provide any necessary information for this purpose.
• Confidentiality: We will not disclose any confidential information obtained while acting for you, except as required by law or in accordance with your instructions.

As part of our internal procedures, including compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, credit checks, audits, and risk management, we may use third-party service providers subject to confidentiality agreements. By engaging us, you agree to our use of such third parties for these purposes.

We may retain and process data relating to you for client management, marketing, and legal practice purposes, and may disclose such data as required by law or to third parties as outlined above.

• Data Protection: Legal Bridge is subject to the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679, and any subsequent laws implementing, replacing, or amending the GDPR. We comply with all applicable data protection laws.
• Retention & Transfer of Documents: We retain certain documents created during the provision of our services, such as financial and administrative records, internal drafts, and research notes. We will retain your files for a minimum of five years after the completion of your matter, which may be stored electronically. After that period, we may dispose of the files without further notice, subject to applicable laws.

Upon your request, we will deliver your files or other property, reserving the right to retain copies. We may charge for the retrieval or return of documents as permitted by law.

• Limitation of Liability: Legal Bridge is the sole entity responsible for any losses incurred by you in connection with our services, subject to the exclusions and limitations set out in these Terms of Business. No individual employee, consultant, director, or partner of Legal Bridge (each a “Legal Bridge Individual”) assumes personal responsibility to you. Accordingly, you agree not to bring any claims against any Legal Bridge Individual in contract, tort, or otherwise.

You agree to indemnify us against any third-party claims arising from or connected to the services we perform on your behalf. Any claims you have against us must be made within one (1) year from when you became or could have reasonably become aware of the issue. Otherwise, such claims will be deemed waived.

1. Termination: You may terminate our engagement at any time by providing notice. If urgent work is required to protect your position after termination, we reserve the right to charge for such services.
2. Acknowledgment of Legal Bridge’s Status: You acknowledge that Legal Bridge is a legal services provider and is not a law firm. However, when the provision of services requires the exclusive involvement of a certified lawyer, Legal Bridge will ensure that such services are performed by a qualified, certified lawyer duly admitted to the Bar in the relevant jurisdiction where the service is being provided.
3. Severability: If any term or provision of these Terms of Business is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other terms or provisions of these Terms of Business, nor shall it affect the validity or enforceability of that term or provision in any other jurisdiction. In the event of such a determination, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to modify the affected provision so as to reflect, as closely as possible, the original intent of the parties, thereby allowing the services contemplated under these Terms of Business to be carried out to the fullest extent possible.
4. Miscellaneous: The services provided by Legal Bridge may be outsourced at our sole discretion to other professionals, including attorneys, legal counsels, accountants, patent attorneys, or consultants. Sections 7:404, 7:407(2), and 7:409 of the Dutch Civil Code are expressly excluded. You agree that no claims will be brought against any individual partners, consultants, or employees of Legal Bridge.

Our services are for your benefit only, and no third party may derive rights from our performance on your behalf.

Our relationship and the services provided are governed by the laws of the Netherlands. The courts of ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from our relationship or services provided.